Chapter 7: Dragon? Maid?244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5MpfywEBG
After hanging up the phone, a new email soon arrived in Kouya’s inbox with a cheerful notification sound.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5luiOPgn7
“Kouya, my apartment is in Aomori Complex, room 302 on the third floor. Make sure to arrive before seven!”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWx5LY3zRt
Kouya read it carefully and realized that his cousin’s place wasn’t far from his own apartment. He’d actually passed through that neighborhood before during one of his leisurely strolls—it was roughly a thirty-minute walk if he took his time.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV0egFRhEG
“I got it. I’ll be there on time,” he replied quickly and then leaned back on the bench, stretching lazily before deciding to take a detour around the city.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1fh3TKqVM
His cousin worked as a programmer, which likely meant long hours and late evenings at the office. That gave him plenty of time to wander and take in the scenery. The city was peaceful in its own way—people rushing home from work, students chatting with friends, the smell of street food drifting from a nearby stall.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5N0yPBTpt
As he walked aimlessly, the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon. The orange glow spread across the buildings, tinting glass windows with soft reflections, and the first few streetlights flickered to life. The air turned cooler, brushing against his cheeks with the faint scent of blooming cherry blossoms carried from somewhere far away.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfgAGvTYfV
When he reached the area near Kobayashi’s apartment, the sky had already dimmed to a deep amber. He found a quiet park close by, the kind with a single bench and an old playground. The rhythmic creak of a distant swing filled the air. He sat down, pulled out a small book from his bag, and began to read under the fading daylight.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaXQmn0r4z
As time passed, the world around him turned tranquil. The chatter of children faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the buzzing hum of street lamps. By the time he closed the book, night had fallen. The glow of nearby windows and the soft flicker of neon lights gave the area a faint warmth against the cool breeze.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwsZEuklUC
He spotted a red-haired woman entering the apartment building, her silhouette familiar even from afar. That must be Kobayashi. He stood up, brushed off a few cherry blossom petals that had landed on his shoulder, and headed to a convenience store nearby.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkEC7N1flJ
It would be rude to show up empty-handed on a first visit.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrIm8icIGJ
For a Demon King, courtesy and manners were trivial concepts—but living a quiet, normal life meant following human customs. It was easier that way. No unnecessary trouble.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdaidNiDYE
He bought a neatly wrapped box of fruit and was about to leave when something metallic caught his attention. There, stacked in a cold display, was a tower of beer cans marked with bright red discount tags.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYdRxKysJj
“Beer, huh?” he muttered under his breath. “It’s been ages. Kind of nostalgic.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYMGu66e9B
After a brief pause, he shrugged and picked up two cans. Technically, minors weren’t allowed to drink in Japan, but his tall frame, sharp eyes, and calm expression made him look far older than his age. The clerk didn’t even question it. He paid, bagged the items, and stepped back into the cool evening air.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IXv06E9Rl
With fruit and beer in hand, Kouya made his way to the Aomori Complex. The building was modest but clean, three stories tall with neatly kept hallways. He climbed the stairs to the third floor, stopped in front of room 302, and pressed the doorbell.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbOuT0zDkG
He barely had time to blink before the door opened with a crisp click.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND9rq2SIo3
But standing there wasn’t the petite, glasses-wearing, flat-chested cousin he expected.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStJ6kgjb7M
It was a blonde girl in a deep blue maid outfit with a frilly white headband, her long hair tied neatly into twin tails. She looked radiant—her face glowing with energy as she beamed at him, her eyes curling into playful crescents.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRZRobNuPX
“Welcome! You must be Kobayashi-sama’s cousin, Kouya-kun! Please, come in!”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyDJzhJbyU
Kouya: “……”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEEhy2jEYN
‘Wait a damn second. I might not read much, but I’m not stupid.’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutUuxJGC7s
‘Where the hell is my nerdy, antisocial cousin? Who’s this… massive-breasted, overly cheerful maid?’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuRfRzjxfP
His gaze flicked upward—and froze.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXmlBZ1H8V
Two curved horns jutted out from her golden hair, and behind her swayed a thick, scaled tail. It shimmered faintly in the hallway light, the scales reflecting a dragon-like sheen.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE59t2prTOy
‘No way… that’s a dragon. A full-on dragon, pretending to be human. And she’s wearing a maid outfit?!’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC2YCNiIyR
Even if she was a young dragon, one breath from her could probably turn the entire building into rubble.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9HiqQJ0ix
Kouya’s fingers twitched. He briefly considered releasing his sealed power, just in case he needed to blow her halfway across the district. But before he could act, a calm, slightly husky voice called out from inside the apartment.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXnqolhzW1
“Kouya? Come in already. It’s been years—you’ve really grown up. You look good.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkzmwsoH1T
The speaker emerged—a red-haired woman barely reaching his shoulder, wearing simple home clothes and rectangular glasses. Her expression was neutral, almost detached, the kind of calm that came from someone who’d seen far too much of the world already.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0khAJlak50
And yes… her chest was impressively nonexistent.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSExuxFhMD
Kouya wasn’t ogling her. It was simply a habit formed from playing too much “Spot the Difference.” His eyes automatically took in details.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8bWpE3omB
‘Weird. She’s human. So how the hell does she have a dragon maid under her roof? Was she a dragon knight or something in her past life?’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcurAMuytP1
He kept his face straight. “Good evening, Cousin.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JxDtc3k0C
“Don’t stand there, come in already.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEwhKJjKxi
Kobayashi tugged him inside gently and went to the shoe rack. “I bought you some slippers earlier. Try them on.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh6X5ekRj5
He slipped them on, took a few steps, and nodded. “They fit.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1zUW7dJAZ
“Good.” Kobayashi smiled faintly, her eyes softening. “You’ve really grown. You used to be so quiet, barely spoke to anyone. Even to me. And look at you now—so polite and calm.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncu2ojKkpJ
Kouya smiled lightly. “People change.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOWXURJkDB
“I’m sorry, though.” Kobayashi suddenly bowed deeply. “I was supposed to pick you up on the first day of school, but something came up at work. By the time I got free, you’d already started classes. I’m really sorry, Kouya.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBdF5hImb0
Before he could respond, the blonde maid suddenly appeared beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes glimmering with tears.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB2uSE27iT
“Kouya-kun, please don’t be angry with Kobayashi-sama! It’s all Tohru’s fault for distracting her!”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCDMEXB31M
Kouya’s mouth twitched.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8KZsOqMhu
‘Oh, for the love of—those things are practically defying gravity.’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gkeyvd3eD
Every time she moved, her chest bounced like it had its own will—like twin waves crashing endlessly against his sanity.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKegskVwWz
Tohru noticed his expression, her cheeks flushing as she fidgeted. Her fingers touched the ribbon on her maid uniform, and she whispered shyly, “I-if showing my chest helps calm you down, then I-I don’t mind if—”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmio8Ih2cvo
“Shut. Up.” Kouya glared, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. ‘Who in their right mind would want to mess with a walking disaster like you?!’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDLycyjsLZ
“Kobayashi-sama…” came a frigid, razor-sharp voice.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt9gtj7OgY
Tohru froze instantly as Kobayashi stepped forward and bonked her lightly on the head.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCRud109sx
“Ouch! That hurts, Kobayashi-sama!” The dragon maid whined pitifully, her eyes watering.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z82DisRi8
‘Oh please,’ Kouya thought. ‘That didn’t even hurt. Worst acting I’ve seen in centuries.’244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2V18pMjVQ
Kobayashi adjusted her glasses, her tone calm but icy. “Kouya’s still a kid. Keep it decent.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG2K5fUcbB
“Yes, ma’am! I’m sorry!” Tohru said immediately, standing straight like a soldier.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpJLcD1bIQ
Kobayashi sighed again, then glanced at the bag in Kouya’s hand. “Wait, is that… beer?”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5Stp92dJJ
Kouya nodded. “The store downstairs had a sale. I wanted to try it. I hope that’s okay.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaAb9wRbO0
Kobayashi’s face lit up. “Of course! You’re almost an adult anyway! Hahaha!” Her laugh was a bit too excited, but Kouya pretended not to notice.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnuXS6sW4Q
“Wash your hands, Kouya. Dinner’s ready.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCCLGPie4V
“Okay.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgY4GM1Idq
Dinner turned out surprisingly lavish: salmon hot pot, grilled fish, beef steak, fried chicken, tuna rice, even some homemade miso soup. The aroma filled the air, rich and mouthwatering.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz5k0iSaD8
“I made all of it myself!” Tohru said proudly, puffing her chest out again. “For Kobayashi-sama and her adorable cousin!”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnMqfePkLS
Kobayashi glanced at her plate and nodded casually. “Not bad.”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqkv5OhxUp
“Hehehe! Then as a reward, Kobayashi-sama, how about a date tomorrow?” Tohru said with a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjG7vGVhZ9
“…What did you just say?” Kobayashi’s voice turned flat, her gaze deadly.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXGgfTG0li
“A-ahahaha… I mean, like a friendly outing—ouch! Ow ow ow!”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABnNN5obxr
After giving Tohru a quick smack on the head, Kobayashi exhaled and turned to Kouya with an awkward smile.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfY48F3iiK
“She’s actually a coworker of mine named Tohru. She lost her job and couldn’t afford rent, so she’s staying here temporarily. She has this thing for dressing as a maid and saying… well, weird things. Don’t mind her, haha…”244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwWNjS8k1v
Her forced laugh was dry as sandpaper.244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuREbDEYiC1
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